8 August 2022

Ferry Crossings with a Hire Car - All you Need to Know

We can help with car hire insurance for your ferry journey

Will your holiday this year include a ferry journey? You may need to take a ferry to get to your resort - perhaps one of the Greek Islands, or are you arriving in Vancouver but staying on Vancouver Island in Canada? Maybe you are considering a day out to another island or even a short trip across to another country?

Can I take a hire car on a ferry?

If you intend to take your rental car on a boat of any kind you should always seek permission from your rental company first. If you are given permission by the car hire company to take your hire car on to the ferry, you should also check that the Collision Damage Waiver that is provided by your car hire company will still cover you whilst you are on the ship.

Do I need additional insurance to take a rental car on a ferry?

If you hire a car and take it on to a ferry, you may find your car hire insurance will not cover you. This is because there is often an exclusion to the CDW provided with your car hire which means that while the car is on a ship the cover is not valid. If the ferry itself is involved in an incident and as a consequence your vehicle is damaged then this would usually be covered by the ferry company. However, if you were to scratch the car whilst attempting to park, or you collide with another vehicle then this would be your fault and therefore would need to be covered by your own insurance – whether through the car hire company or through an independent policy.

How do I get insurance to cover my hire car on a ferry?

We offer CDW policies through the MoneyMaxim comparison service which can provide you the insurance cover you need for your rental car whilst it is on a ferry.. Run a quote for worldwide cover (even if you are only travelling in Europe) and opt for policies including CDW when prompted.

Your results will include a policy from Worldwide Insure. Their worldwide CDW policy provides cover for rental cars whilst on a ferry journey. Please do check that this policy meets all the other needs of your trip before proceeding so you can check its fully suitable for your needs.

The advantage of taking out one of these policies is that they will also provide you with additional cover for your hire. You may well have an excess on your Collison Damage and Theft Waivers that come as part of your car rental package. On dry land you would claim on this policy should you have an accident – the car rental company’s cover would take precedent over an additional policy. However, the Worldwide Insure Deluxe policy could enable you to be reimbursed for the excess. You can also reclaim any money you have to pay out for damage to the windows, wheels, tyres, roof or underbody of the car as these are areas which are often excluded from any Collision Damage Waiver.

If you need any further assistance, our customer service team is on hand to help. Call us on 0118 321 8197.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Smith